The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is seeking input from all interested parties on ways to increase the efficiency of the nationwide permit program; permits that authorize activities that are similar in nature and cause no more than minimal environmental impacts to aquatic resources under the jurisdiction of the USACE, separately or on a cumulative basis.
[Above photo by USACE]
Nationwide permits are a type of general permit intended to reduce administrative burdens on the USACE and the regulated public while maintaining environmental protection, by efficiently authorizing activities that have no more than minimal adverse environmental effects, consistent with Congressional intent in the 1977 amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
The USACE said in a statement that activities covered by its nationwide permit program range from work associated with aids to navigation and utility lines to residential developments and maintenance activities.
The agency said the comments it is soliciting in this notice will be considered in future rulemaking related to its new nationwide permits rule, which went into effect March 15. Potential modifications to the nationwide permits may occur before the 2026 nationwide permits expire March 15, 2031, USACE added.
The agency said input on its nationwide permits program may include measures to eliminate unnecessary review over activities that require a USACE permit; measures to increase efficiency in the reviews of requests for nationwide permit verifications; categories of activities that USACE should consider for establishing new nationwide permits; and measures to improve conditions or processes that would ensure authorized activities would cause no more than minimal adverse environmental effects.
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